The Real Deal behind the seal.
Few things are guaranteed in life, but when you see the USDA Organic seal on a food or beverage in the US, you can rest assured that it earned its certification and the right to bear that seal as it is one of the most highly regulated and monitored food system in the US.
Organic farming ensures safe and ethical practices are used and that the land is left better than before.
In order to bear the USDA Organic seal, strict standards set and maintained by the US government must be followed according to guidelines for soil quality, pest and weed control, farming practices and use of additives.
- Produce can be called organic if it is grown on soil that had no prohibited substances (like synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) applied for three years prior to harvest.
- Farming can only use natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods
- Organic operations must maintain or improve soil and water quality, while conserving wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife.
- Irradiation, and genetic engineering (GMOs) are not allowed
- Organic farms must have set boundaries and buffer areas to protect their land from exposure to prohibited substances that may be used on nearby non-organic farms
Multi-Ingredient items (like mymuse) have additional guidelines that must be adhered to:
- They may not contain any artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
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All ingredients in a final product must be organic, with some minor exceptions. For example, our drinks contain sea salt, which is not cultivated so can’t be certified organic
- Those excepted ingredients may not account for more than 5% of the finished product’s ingredient’s weights; if they do, the seal cannot be used.
We’re right to be growing skeptical of descriptions like “all natural”, because they aren’t defined or regulated and leave a lot of grey area for uncertainty.
Keep your eyes peeled for that seal!
Sources:
USDA
The Organic Produce Network